Engage the kids this summer with Independence Day themed crafts to get them excited for the Fourth of July holiday. From DIY tote bags to homemade sparklers, patriotic face painting, and more… here are 11 ways to add sparkle to kids craft time on the 4th of July!

Decoupage is the art of decorating an object by gluing colored paper cut-outs onto it. Each layer of paper is sealed with a glue or varnish before adding another new layer. You can use the decoupage technique to create a beautiful votive candle holder.

Watercolor resist is a technique that artists use to create interesting effects in their paintings. The basic idea is that wax or oil will resist water-based paints; the paint won’t stick to it. You can use this technique to create beautiful paintings of ocean life or anything else your imagination can dream up.

While you’re out enjoying the weather, collect some of those beautiful spring flowers to use in your arts and crafts projects. For pressing flowers, look for more flat flowers like violets, pansies, and daisies. Thicker flowers will work, but they take longer to dry. Here’s how to press flowers…

The Ojo de Dios, or Eye of God, is a Native American craft of the Huichol Indians of northwestern Mexico.

The Eye of God is a symbol of the power of seeing and understanding the unknown. They are made for children when they are born and a new eye is added for each year until they are five. All you need for this project are two relatively straight sticks and some yarn or string.